Job: Patient Financial Counselor

Job Description

Job Type: Full time, Hourly

Wage: $19-$25.50/hr.

Location: Leadville, CO.

Job Description:

Patient Financial Counselor- Full-time position onsite days. 

Full-time and part-time employees working at least 24 hours a week will have the following benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision, paid time off, paid sick leave, Holidays, 403(b) Retirement Plans, Life Insurance Plans, Shift differential, Workers' Compensation. 

Requirements

• High school Diploma or GED
• Associate degree in Business, healthcare administration, or related field, preferred 
• Minimum of 2 years in hospital/clinic billing, registration, insurance verification, or financial counseling, preferred
• Experience in a rural or Critical Access Hospital setting is a plus.
• Medicare enrollment certification, preferred
• Strong knowledge of insurance plans (Medicare, Medicaid, commercial, Marketplace).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to explain complex financial/insurance information in simple, supportive terms.
• Proficiency in hospital billing systems, Microsoft Office, and electronic health records.
• Working conditions:
  • Office and patient-facing environment inside the hospital and clinic.
  • Frequent interaction with patients and families under stress.

The Patient Financial Counselor serves as a vital resource to patients and families by providing clear, compassionate, and accurate guidance regarding healthcare costs, insurance coverage, and available financial assistance programs. This role ensures patients at our Critical Access Hospital understand their financial responsibilities and have access to support in navigating insurance, payment plans, and charity care options. The counselor plays a key part in promoting patient satisfaction while supporting the hospital’s mission of providing accessible, sustainable care to the community.

Key Responsibilities

• Patient Communication & Education
• • Meet with patients and families to explain insurance benefits, cost estimates, and out-of-pocket responsibilities.
  • Provide education on billing statements, charges, and hospital financial policies in a professional and supportive manner.
  • Follow up on billed but unpaid self-pay insurance claims.
• Financial Assistance & Counseling
• • Screen patients for eligibility in Medicaid, charity care, and other financial assistance programs.
  • Assist with applications and documentation for Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace plans, and hospital-sponsored assistance.
  • Counsel patients on payment options, setting up reasonable payment plans, and resolving financial barriers to care.
• Revenue Cycle Support
• • Collaborate with registration, billing, and coding teams to ensure accurate insurance and demographic information is captured.
  • Partner with case management and social services to align financial counseling with discharge planning.
  • Support reduction in bad debt and charity write-offs through proactive patient engagement.
• Compliance & Documentation
• • Maintain accurate, confidential patient financial records in compliance with HIPAA and hospital policy.
  • Stay up to date on federal/state regulations, including EMTALA, Medicaid eligibility, and IRS/501(r) charity care requirements.
  • Ensure all counseling interactions and financial assistance determinations are documented timely in the EHR and billing systems.

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.